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CARTERVILLE --- After several years pining to get over the hump, the Carterville Lions finally did it Thursday night defeating division rival Nashville 54-42.

The Lions held a firm grasp on the lead throughout, leading by 13 at the end of the first quarter and the Lions led by as many as 16 at one point.

"We did a great job, keeping [Nashville] spread out on the shooters," said Carterville coach Matt Crain. "We rebounded well and we were running the floor tonight.  Our athleticism got to kick in there towards the end and we got some easy lay ups."

SIU commit and Lions-point leader Jeniah Thompson was one of the key scorers for the Lions with 15 points on the evening.

"She did her job," Crain said. "She's going to SIU for a reason."

The win big in several ways but it also moved the Lions to 30 wins on the 2019-2020 season.

"I never thought I'd be able to say that," Crain said.  "[We've] had the bullseye on our back all season long.  Had to beat Nashville three times... To say you're 30-2... told them before the game 'you're champions to me, you're champion people.  Tonight just let it go hang out and see where the chips fall.'"

Crain's pride shone through after the game as he discussed finally making it to the Super-Sectional, especially with the senior group of Thompson, his daughter Abby Crain, and Megan Barton.

"Unbelievable... Proud of them.  That's been their goal to get there.  Put a lot on them when they came in as freshmen, and when Meg came as a sophomore, and they had to carry the scoring load for their younger years... It's been on their shoulders.... They fought to the bitter end."

Next up for the Lions, they play the Wooden Shoes of Teutopolis, a team that the Lions already beat this season in a 44-40 battle on November 23rd.

"We'll have to have our 'A' game," said Crain. "Our conference toughens us up for that.  You had first and second place playing tonight.  Right now, get as prepared as you can get, get up there, roll 'em out, let the chips fall, and see where you end up."

Carterville football coach Brett Diel spoke with voice of the Lions, Dave McKenzie, before Friday night's game at #2 Benton.  Diel is excited to finally be playing football in the fall again and spoke about the challenge of facing Benton - who appears to have reloaded after an exciting 5-1 spring season.  Hear the Lions on Newsradio WJPF 1340 AM and 99.5 FM Friday night:

Mike Murphy talked with Cam Alford on Tuesday's episode of Talkin Vols.  Take a listen what the guard had to talk about!